Au Pair in Germany: visa information

Au Pair Visa

Applying for a visa can be very difficult. First of all, you have to find out if you need a visa and if so, which one you need to apply for. This step alone feels sometimes very frustrating for young Au Pairs since the embassy's websites are not as informative as one would wish for. So, in some countries you would need a student visa, in other you're required to apply for a residence permit. If you decide to become an Au Pair in Germany you're lucky: every Au Pair who wants to work in Germany needs the same visa. Additionally, only Au Pairs from outside the EU and EFTA country will need one. If you're an EU/EFTA citizen you can work as an Au Pair in Germany without any limitations. 

How to speed up the process

Important: contact the embassy as soon as possible and make sure to read every piece of information that you can find on the embassy's website. Sometimes visa applications get rejected just because a potential Au Pair forgot to insert some contact details. Try to make it as easy as possible for the embassy's staff to process your application. You can also save time by doing so: if you forgot to add an important piece of information the embassy will need more time for their decision.

Officially you cannot speed up the process since the embassy works very autonomously. But what you can do is to make sure that they won't take longer than needed. Tip: make a list of as soon as possible or use our list as an orientation for the process. 

Who can apply for an Au Pair visa to Germany?

Step by step visa guide

Further information

• Au Pairs will get a 90 days visa, which they have to exchange for a residence permit once in Germany. To get it, they must first register at the local office (Einwohnermeldeamt) and then at the foreign office (Ausländerbehörde). Au Pairs from Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the USA may travel to Germany without a visa, however, they will still have to apply for the residence permit.
• Keep in mind that the Au Pair visa is not a standard work permit. Therefore, the Au Pair is not allowed to work in any other job in Germany.
• German embassies recommend applying for the visa two to four months before the planned departure date. The visa process might take between 4-8 weeks.
• Nationals of: Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea or Hong Kong might be able to apply for a Working Holiday Maker visa, too. Please contact the competent authority for more information.